County Commission Tackles Fire, Budget

Bernie Koch Reporting

WICHITA - Sedgwick County Commissioners held public hearings on the county budget Wednesday, but it was the budget for the County Fire District that generated some controversy. The 2015 budget for Fire District # 1 does not increase property taxes in the fire district, but there's a 1.13% decrease in expenditures. Six firefighter positions are being held vacant to help make ends meet. Dave Thompson with local 2612 of the firefighters objected. "It's too deep, it's unsafe. We have families, we have citizens to protect," Said Thompson.

County Manager Bill Buchanan told KNSS news after the meeting he didn't think Thompson understood the budget and that it's a tough budget. "It's terribly difficult. It's a choice between levels of services and taxes. And once your revenues aren't increased, your services have to be reduced."